MAHREZ Mahrez advice Morocco is a favorite for AFCON 2025, but there are pressure warnings

Ahead of Morocco’s hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez has expressed his opinions.

The current Al-Ahli player and former Manchester City winger declared the Atlas Lions the clear favorites for the competition, but he issued a warning that playing at home will present unique difficulties.

“They’re at home; Morocco is a favorite,” Mahrez stated. “They will be under pressure.”

The 32-year-old, who won the AFCON trophy with Algeria in 2019, emphasized that although Morocco’s team is full of elite players from all around Europe, the home crowd’s expectations might make or break their campaign.

Having advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Morocco enters the competition as one of Africa’s most successful teams. With players like Sofiane Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech, and Achraf Hakimi among them, they are predicted to put up a fierce fight.

The delicate balance between advantage and pressure that comes with hosting the largest football competition on the continent is highlighted by Mahrez’s remarks, though.

The Atlas Lions will compete domestically for the AFCON championship.